please help rooster is sick

[missfit farm1]

i am trying to figure out what is wrong with my 3 year old silkie rooster he is wobbling when trying to walk i guess this is called a drunken walk. it has gradually gotten worse over the past 3 days and i am worried i have checked him for injuries or bites or sores and found nothing his legs and wings are fine as he lets me move them around without complaining he seems to want to walk but isnt able to please help is there anything i can do for him? unfortunatly our vets in the area do not treat chickens and their response was to slaughter him and i am not willing to do that as silly as it sounds he is part of the family any ideas on what is wrong with him???? please help we do not want to lose him
laura

yes he is pooping normally as well

 

[katrinag]

Has the diet changed? Could he have gotten into anything? Can you bring him in the house and keep an eye on him?

 

[missfit farm1]

i dont beleive he has gotton into anything he is penned during the day with his girl and sleeps in the barn at night this has been the same arrangement for 3 years now there is no poisons of any kind in the barn his diet is the same as it has always been and his girl is fine is there anything i can give him to help him get stronger?? he is eating and drinking right now he is safely in the barn with his girl sleeping on the hay bail but i can bring him in if you feel its necesarry.

 

[arlee453]

Could he have suffered a bonk or peck on the head? Silkies are notoriously prone to head injuries due to the fact that their skulls do not fully close over the top of their brains. (like an open 'soft spot' on a human infant's head)

If it is a head injury, time and supportive therapies (supplimental vitamins, protection from extremes in temperatures and further injury) is the most you can do. Time will tell the rest.

If he has NO other symptoms other than being unsteady on his feet, injury could be the cause.

Just one possibility though - maybe others will have more insight.

 

[Minx]

Quote:
Possible cause to the problem ???

Apoplexy.
Causes – The bird itself has been too highly fed, or has inherited tendency to apoplexy from the too high feeding of its parents. Apoplexy is immediately due to brain pressure or the bursting of a small brain blood vessel - so that a cock may have an attack after a fight, or a hen with the strain of egg production.
Symptoms – The bird falls down, obviously in a fit, and , perhaps, dead. In lighter cases a confused and unsteady walk will be noticed. Treatment – Give no food for one day, and then something very light. Put sick bird in a darkened pen. Give warm water only, in which dissolve a little Epsom Salts or tincture of iron.

 

[ZepChick]

oh I hope he gets better...is he pooping normally? You said he is eating and drinking fine, I am not sure what could be wrong, especially if he has no other symptoms. Is there a vet in a nearby area that will see livestock? Maybe you could call over the phone? Good luck to you and your sweet roo ~ Kim